Page 31 of Her Devoted HERO

Dex reached over and grabbed her right hand, and pulled it to him. He waited until she unclenched it and he was able to sandwich it between both of his.

“Kenna, at this moment, I am right where I want to be. I want to go out with you. Everything I’ve said to you after you sent me your e-mail has been the absolute truth. Does that pass the smell test?”

“So, you didn’t send the initial e-mail?”

Dex’s laugh made people turn their heads to look at him. “God, nobody can accuse you of being slow. You caught that, did you?”

“I have a teenage son, I’m trained to read through bullshit. Who sent me the first e-mail?”

“Guys from another SEAL team were playing a joke and set up the account, they sent hundreds of e-mails to women on that site. Over two hundred women responded, and I spent three nights explaining that it was a fake account and that I really hadn’t pinged their profile.”

Dex was hopeful when Kenna didn’t try to pull her hand away.

“That was a hell of a prank. You actually responded back to those women? How did that go?” Her eyes were twinkling.

“Mostly okay.”

“I’m thinking there might be a story with the ones that didn’t go ‘okay.’”

Dex shrugged. “I learned a couple of new phrases, and considering the fact that I’m in the Navy, that’s saying something.”

Kenna giggled. Then she got serious. “Why didn’t you blow me off?”

“You made me laugh. I’d never considered a dating site, but if I’d known you were on one, I would have been there years ago.” He looked down at their clasped hands, then back into her eyes.

“Kenna, all I was doing was reading e-mails and responding. Then I read yours and thought this is someone I have to meet. Of course, I had to go look at your profile pic since you swore it was the bomb...”

“I did not.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let her.

“I wanted to see what twenty dollars’ worth of product looked like. It was pretty damn spectacular.”

“So, it was the picture.” She smiled at him.

“It was the triple threat. A good mother, a killer smile, and someone who could make me laugh. I had to meet you. Then you took down your profile.”

She tugged at her hand again. Their number was called, so he let her go and went to the counter. When he came back with the food, she was looking thoughtful.

“Before you say whatever it is you’re going to say. Eat.” He pushed her plate of food in front of her. “It’s better when it’s hot.”

“But I’m not all―”

“You’re all that and a bag of chips.”

“A bag of chips.” She laughed. She had a great laugh. “Seriously Dex, you listen―”

“Nope, don’t want to hear it. I’m not going to like it, I can tell. I want to enjoy my lunch. You can ruin my digestion after the fact. I have Rolaids in my jeep.”

“Seriously, Dex.”

“Seriously, Kenna,” he mimicked her. “You’re going to say something stupid about not giving this a shot for some inane reason, and I won’t be hungry. Right now, I’m hungry, and I’m about to eat one of my favorite meals, don’t ruin it for me, I’m begging you.”

She unwrapped her straw and put it into her drink. “All right. It does smell good,” she admitted.

He smiled. Now to get her talking about something else, and they would have their first date!

Chapter Six

“Rosalie, I’m driving. It’s rainy. I’m going to be late for work. I don’t have time for this.”